Leading independent power producer ENGIE South Africa has operated in the country for more than 15 years, delivering reliable, clean energy solutions across the continent while supporting the transition to a carbon-neutral economy.

Nonjabulo Sgutya

Xina Operations & Maintenance plant manager Nonjabulo Sgutya is helping to demonstrate the growing role women are playing in South Africa's renewable energy sector. She oversees the safe, reliable and efficient operation of a 100 MW concentrated solar power (CSP) plant that supplies electricity to Eskom under a long-term power purchase agreement.

Born in Richmond, Northern Cape, Sgutya holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering and is currently completing a Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration. Her progression into senior leadership within the CSP industry stands as her proudest professional achievement, reflecting years of dedication in a sector that has traditionally been dominated by men.

Sgutya believes effective leadership is built on trust, support and empowerment. Adopting a coaching leadership style, she encourages her team to take ownership of their work while remaining readily available to provide guidance, remove obstacles and offer support whenever it is needed. Rather than micromanaging, she focuses on creating an environment where people are equipped to succeed and develop their own capabilities.

Her admiration for pioneering scientist Marie Curie reflects her appreciation for individuals who challenge convention and overcome significant barriers to make lasting contributions in their fields. Sgutya sees similar opportunities emerging for women in South Africa's renewable energy industry as the sector continues to expand and diversify.

Guided by the philosophy, "Let your work speak for itself", Sgutya believes credibility is earned through consistent performance, integrity and delivering results. She hopes her own journey will encourage more women to pursue careers in engineering and renewable energy, demonstrating that technical expertise and strong leadership can open doors at the highest levels of the industry.

Her message to other women leaders is equally practical: strive for a healthy work-life balance and never be afraid to set boundaries. She believes that protecting personal wellbeing is essential to sustaining long-term success, enabling women to thrive professionally while remaining true to themselves.

Nalini Ghela 

Xina Solar One CEO Nalini Ghela is helping to advance South Africa's renewable energy transition by leading the operation of a 100 MW CSP plant that generates clean electricity for the national grid. With qualifications that include an MBA, a BSc Honours degree and a BTech in Chemical Engineering, she combines technical expertise with strategic business leadership to guide the company in supporting the country's renewable energy objectives.

Born in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, Ghela describes her leadership style as purpose-driven, collaborative and grounded in trust. She believes people perform at their best when they understand the bigger picture, feel valued for their contribution and are empowered to take ownership of their work. For her, leadership extends beyond achieving business results to creating an environment where people are supported, motivated and able to grow.

One of the most influential lessons in Ghela's life came long before her professional career. After two years without a single victory, her childhood netball team persevered to finish as runners-up in a tournament. The experience taught her that setbacks do not define success; resilience, teamwork and determination do. Those principles continue to shape how she approaches leadership and problem-solving today.

Ghela greatly admires former PepsiCo chairperson and CEO Indra Nooyi for her ability to combine commercial success with authentic leadership and long-term vision. She is equally guided by her own philosophy: "Be kind, be humble and, most importantly, be curious", believing curiosity is essential to continuous learning and innovation.

Her message to other women leaders centres on self-awareness, resilience and surrounding themselves with people who challenge and inspire them. Leadership, she believes, is not about having all the answers but about creating the conditions for collective wisdom and progress. Drawing inspiration from the Japanese proverb Nana korobi ya oki (Fall down seven times, rise eight), Ghela encourages women to embrace adversity as an opportunity for growth, reminding them that authentic leadership is built not only through success, but through the courage to rise after every setback.

Nonkululeko Ripinga

Kathu Operations engineering manager Nonkululeko Ripinga is helping to ensure the long-term performance and reliability of the Kathu Solar Park, one of South Africa's flagship renewable energy facilities and ENGIE South Africa's first CSP development. A registered Professional Engineer with the Engineering Council of South Africa, she leads a multidisciplinary team spanning electrical, mechanical, process, performance and control and instrumentation engineering, while overseeing lifecycle management strategies, operational efficiency and root cause analyses.

Born in Nelspruit, Ripinga holds an MSc in Electrical Engineering, a Government Certificate of Competency and has completed the Middle and Senior Management Programme through Henley Business School. Her career reflects a commitment to both technical excellence and developing the people around her.

Ripinga describes her leadership style as authentic, people-centred and rooted in empathy. She believes the true measure of leadership is not the number of followers it creates, but the future leaders it develops. By fostering an environment where people feel valued, challenged and supported, she aims to help her team continuously learn, grow and realise their full potential.

While proud of her achievements as an engineering leader in the renewable energy sector, Ripinga considers her greatest success to be balancing professional impact with purpose. Alongside being a mother, she is passionate about mentoring women and young girls, supporting disadvantaged schools and helping young professionals build confidence in their own abilities.

She draws inspiration from former US First Lady Michelle Obama, whose authenticity, humility and commitment to education and women's empowerment she deeply admires. Ripinga is equally guided by her own philosophy that perseverance and adaptability go hand in hand. She believes challenges should be embraced as opportunities for growth while recognising that wisdom sometimes lies in choosing a different path.

Her message to women leaders is to remain lifelong learners, actively seek mentors and never underestimate the value of surrounding themselves with people who challenge and inspire them. She encourages women to invest in their expertise, allow their passion to become their competitive advantage and remember that leadership is measured not by how high they climb, but by how many others they empower along the way.

Ellen Shezi

Peakers Operations plant manager Ellen Shezi is responsible for the safe, reliable and efficient operation of a 335 MW peaking power plant that supplies electricity to South Africa's national grid. In addition to her role as plant manager, she serves as the appointed GMR2.1 Supervisor of Machinery and OHS Act 16.2 appointee, overseeing operational performance, safety and compliance.

Born in Hammarsdale, KwaZulu-Natal, Shezi's academic journey reflects her commitment to lifelong learning. After earning a First Class Honours degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Cape Town, she completed a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering while balancing a demanding career and family life. She later obtained her Electrical Engineers Government Certificate of Competency (Factories), a qualification she regards as one of the most challenging achievements of her professional career.

Shezi describes her leadership approach as a blend of servant, authentic, situational and transformational leadership, with a strong emphasis on empowering people. She believes exceptional organisations are built by investing in employees technically, emotionally and personally, and measures success by the confidence and independence her teams develop. Her commitment to being present and accessible earned her the nickname umabizw' asabele – "the person who, when called, responds" – after she immediately travelled to site to support an employee who had raised a serious safety concern.

One of the highlights of her nearly two decades in the energy sector was being named one of the AOW & Lean In Equity Sustainability Top 50 Pan-African Most Inspirational Female Leaders in Energy for 2026. She views the recognition not only as a personal milestone but also as motivation to continue creating opportunities for others to succeed.

Inspired by former Liberian president Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Shezi believes leadership is about service rather than status. Guided by the biblical principle of treating others as she wishes to be treated, she strives to lead with authenticity, integrity and accountability.

Her message to women leaders is to embrace opportunities, remain true to themselves and use their positions to create pathways for others. She believes the true legacy of leadership lies not only in personal achievement, but in inspiring and empowering the next generation of women to lead.